James A Cook Memorial Scholarship

My parents are my teachers and not because I am homeschooled. I attend the same small, rural school where they teach. They believe that they should have enough faith in the school where they work that they would send their own children to it. They have set an example of servant leadership that has shaped my life. As an athlete, sports make up one part of my community. My application shows that I am a five-sport eighteen-time varsity athlete. It does not show how I have tried to be the type of leader and teammate that creates positivity and opportunities for others. Soccer is my passion, but I almost didn’t play high school soccer. When I was in middle school, Martin did not have a soccer team. I started a conversation with the athletic director; working together, we found a neighboring school that would co-op with us. I was able to play varsity soccer all four years of high school, two as captain. That partnership extends to other sports, like golf, and created opportunities for more than a dozen other student athletes to follow passions that our school could not offer alone. Bowling was new to me when I hit high school, but I wanted to try it. When our bowling team faced possible elimination, I helped find a coach and encouraged others to join. We now have almost 30 bowlers, many of whom would not be student athletes without the program. There are other teams that I’ve helped as well. I joined football when the regular kicker came down with Covid and left the team in need. I was just supposed to fill in, but, turns out, I had a lot to contribute. I joined the team as a backup kicker. This year, I had to step up for the state championship game when the starter became injured. I contributed seven points and we won. I began cross country the same way - as a fill-in. They had four scoring runners and needed five to make a team. I came out my freshman year and helped the team be competitive and just kept coming back to be part of the team. My peers have seen my commitment beyond sports. They have elected me to positions in student government. As student council president, I work to make other council members successful. I chair committees and help underclassmen figure out plans and solve problems. Together we plan and execute homecoming weeks and community service projects. As class vice president, I have worked with my classmates to plan prom and senior trip, execute numerous fundraisers, and encourage participation in community-building events like homecoming. In these leadership roles, I have helped my classmates have fun and create experiences with one another that they will remember for years. I’ve also mentored younger students on how to be leaders and help create the kind of school they envision. Whether it’s contributing to a sports team or the activities of the student body, I have the desire to serve my community. That desire is even shaping my future. I want to become a family practitioner in underserved communities, like rural areas. There is a need for this type of medical care to be available, and I believe I can make more of a difference in a community in this capacity. Whatever path I take and whatever university I attend, my commitment to giving back and my style of servant leadership come with me. I have watched firsthand as my parents have lived it, and their example has deeply ingrained it in me.